Environmental Handbook, Volume I: Guidance for Compliance

This section of the SER includes the bulk
of the reference materials used during the preparation of
environmental documents.

Editor(s) are working on content.

I: Overview

Chapter
1 - Federal Requirements introduces the federal laws,
Executive Orders, and regulations applicable to transportation
projects. There are links to policy, guidance, directives
and advisories pertaining to federal environmental laws,
and agreements pertaining to National Environmental Policy
Act and Department of Transportation Act Section 4(f) compliance.
Agreements pertaining to other federal and state requirements
are listed in Section III: Topics.

Chapter
2 - State Requirements addresses the requirements of
California law and regulations, the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) and its Guidelines as well as related
state environmental statutes and regulations. CEQA compliance
is required for all projects for which a public agency has
a discretionary action unless the project is exempted by
statute in an act of the Legislature. Refer to Section
V: CEQA for the preparation and processing of CEQA-only
categorical exemptions, initial studies, negative declarations,
and environmental impact reports. Section VI: Joint
Documents discusses joint CEQA and NEPA environmental
documentation.

Chapter
3 - Public Participation sets forth the legal requirements
for public hearings and notices, describes the public participation
process during project development and transportation planning,
and discusses government-to-government relations between
the federal government and recognized Native American Tribal
governments.

Chapter
5 - Preliminary Environmental Scoping discusses the
various types of Project Initiation Documents (PIDs) used
to program funds for transportation projects. It then addresses
the preliminary environmental scoping documents used to
identify the efforts needed to conduct the subsequent environmental
studies and prepare the environmental document. The types
of programming documents and the timing of the preparation
of the preliminary environmental scoping documents differ
based on whether the project will be on or off the State
Highway System.

Chapter
6 - Formal Scoping Process describes the requirements
and process to engage other agencies and parties to formally
provide their views on the range and breadth of issues to
be addressed in Environmentl Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental
Impact report (EIR).

III: Topics

Chapter 7 - Topography/Geology/Soils/Seismic provides information and requirements for describing geologic, soil and seismic conditions in the vicinity of the project area as well as an analysis of the potential environmental impacts of project alternatives on these conditions and the potential impacts of geotechnical conditions on the transportation facility.

Chapter
8 - Paleontology provides guidance on pertinent Federal
and State statutes as well as recommended procedures and
document formats for conducting paleontological studies
in response to Federal, State, and local laws, regulations,
and ordinances.

Chapter
11 - Air Quality covers the regulatory framework and
recommended procedures for performing an air quality analysis
for both Caltrans and local agency transportation projects.
Preparation of the air quality section of the environmental
document and supporting technical report are discussed in
detail. There is also discussion of air quality requirements
throughout the project delivery process, from transportation
conformity determinations at the regional planning stage
to project requirements during construction.

Chapter
12 - Noise is an overview of Caltrans noise policies
and procedures as they relate to transportation project
planning and delivery. Information is provided to give
the reader a basic understanding of the need to consider
noise impacts, evaluate potential abatement measures and
documentation requirements.

Chapter
13 - Energy discusses the policy and procedures regarding
energy analysis, including when an energy analysis is required
for a proposed project. This chapter also provides general
guidance on how to conduct and write an energy analysis.

Chapter
14 - Biological Resources discusses the framework within
which biological resources are considered during project
planning, development and implementation. The laws, regulation
and policy that apply to biological resources are discussed
within the context of project delivery timelines.

Chapter
15 - Waters of the U.S. and the State provides guidance on laws and regulations, agency coordination, assessment and reporting requirements, and information needed for project delivery pertaining to Waters of the U.S. and the State.

Chapter
17 - Floodplains, discusses the requirements of Executive
Order 11988 and the responsibilities of FHWA, Caltrans and
local agencies when projects encroach on a 100-year base
floodplain.

Chapter
18 - Coastal Zone, focuses on compliance with federal
and state laws that protect coastal resources. Background
on the applicable laws is given, followed by a general discussion
of when those laws apply to a proposed project and what
must be done if those laws do apply. References and links
to more specific guidance on coastal resources issues are
also provided.

Chapter
19 - Wild and Scenic Rivers, discusses all river reaches
officially designated as being part of the National Wild
and Scenic River System and official study rivers.
Also lists all river reaches officially designated as wild,
scenic, or recreational by the California
Natural Resources Agency.

Publicly-Owned Public Parks, Recreational Areas, Or
Wildlife Or Waterfowl Refuges officially designated as
such, or when the agency having jurisdiction over
the land determine one of its major purposes or functions
is for park, recreation, or refuge purposes.

Historic sites on or eligible for the National Register
of Historic Places and archaeological sites on or
eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and which warrant preservation in place as determined
by FHWA and the SHPO.

Chapter
22 - Land Use includes guidance on dealing with the
following issues in the environmental document:

Chapter
23 - Farmlands - This chapter is an overview identifying
potential impacts to agricultural lands associated with
proposed transportation projects. Information is provided
that defines the different types of farmlands and the procedures
necessary to evaluate them. Relevant California farmland
policies are also discussed as well as identification of
the agencies responsible for those policies.

Chapter
25 - Environmental Justice - This chapter includes a
basic overview of the principles of environmental justice
and how they are incorporated into the environmental process.
Definitions of minority and low-income populations, and
other terms related to environmental justice are presented.
Laws, regulations and guidance pertaining to environmental
justice are also included within this chapter.

Chapter
27 - Visual & Aesthetics Review - This chapter provides
an overview of the approach the Department uses to identify
visual and aesthetic issues that may result from transportation
projects. Information is provided to give the reader a basic
understanding of the Visual Impact Assessment and Scenic
Resource Evaluation. These studies are used to predict the
degree and type of impact proposed projects will have on
the “visual” environment.

Chapter
28 - Cultural Resources - This chapter discusses the
requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act (NHPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and other
federal and state laws regarding cultural resources in the
environmental review process.

IV: NEPA Documentation

Chapter
30 - Categorical Exclusions, discusses the criteria
that a proposed action must meet to be categorically excluded
from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the
preparation and processing of the Categorical Exclusion
(CE) documentation for Caltrans and Local Assistance projects.

Chapter
31 - Environmental Assessment (EA)/Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI), discusses the preparation and processing
of a NEPA Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI). In most cases EAs are prepared
jointly with CEQA Negative Declarations. For guidance on
joint CEQA/NEPA Initial Studies/Environmental Assessments
and joint Negative Declarations/FONSIs refer to Chapter
37 and 38.

Chapter
32 - Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), discusses
the preparation and processing of a NEPA Notice of Intent,
Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statement, and Record
of Decision. In most cases EISs are prepared jointly with
CEQA Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs). For guidance
on joint CEQA/NEPA Environmental Impact Statements/Environmental
Impact Reports (EIR/EIS) see Chapter 36.

V: CEQA

Chapter
34 - Exemptions to CEQA, discusses the criteria that
a project must meet to be exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act and the preparation and processing of the Categorical
Exemption (CE) documentation for Caltrans projects. Local
Agencies may find this guidance useful for CEQA compliance
for transportation projects for which they are the CEQA
lead agency.

Chapter
36 - Environmental Impact Report, discusses the preparation
and processing of an EIR in accordance with the California
Environmental Quality Act. This chapter also discusses the
preparation and processing of documents related to an EIR
including, a Notice of Preparation (NOP), a Notice of Completion
(NOC), Certification, Findings, Statement of Overriding
Considerations (SOC), and a Notice of Determination (NOD).
The chapter also includes information on the preparation
and processing of a Supplemental EIR, a Subsequent EIR,
and an Addendum to an EIR.

VI: Joint NEPA/CEQA Documents

Chapter
37 - Preparing Joint NEPA/CEQA Documentation, provides
direction on the preparation of documentation designed to
meet the requirements of both the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA). Combined documentation is the most efficient
means to comply with state and federal requirements. One
document is prepared and circulated for public review.